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01/04/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (SPECIAL COMMUNICATION)
From: Richard Bloch
Dr. Levy, I congratulate you on your career and efforts on behalf of podiatry. I am writing this letter as an individual, not on behalf of the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association in response to your article, “RE: Preparing Podiatric Medicine for its Future Role in Healthcare: A Half Century is Much Too Long.”
I have had the privilege of working as General Counsel to the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association since 1979 and also as Executive Director since 1991. I am proud to be associated with podiatry and have worked diligently to advance the profession, especially to expand its scope of practice legislatively, as well as recognition as the only non-MD/DO profession that is licensed to perform surgery. With the advent of the 4-4-3 model that is equal to the MD/DOs, podiatrists achieved “equality” in...
Editor's note: Mr. Bloch's extended-length letter can be read here.
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01/17/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (SPECIAL COMMUNICATION)
From: Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH
Richard Bloch, Executive Director of the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association, disagrees with my statement that there should "be an organized effort by our profession taking the National Board Examinations and/or acquiring a license comparable to other medical specialties (e.g., ophthalmology, ENT, etc.)." Furthermore, he describes podiatric physicians as being "generically licensed" and says that their specialization is by training, certification, and/or self-designation. He also concludes that “podiatrists elect to specialize by attending podiatric medical school and that the profession should be proud of its distinction in that regard.”
Mr. Bloch claims that whether the doctor has taken a particular exam is not something a patient looks at in deciding which doctor to...
Editor's note: Dr. Levy's extended-length letter can be read here
01/07/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (SPECIAL COMMUNICATION) - PART 1B
From: Steven Selby Blanken, DPM
I am one of many DPMs who are happy with the fact that the NBME declined our request (the "White Paper"). I have stated before, as I will state today, that in this day and age, transparency needs to be in the forefront of proposals like this. Many of us who are even very active in our state societies and APMA didn't even know about this when it was being thought of. I believe that some few DPMs in our profession intended that to be that way. Issues like this in the future should be announced nationally by APMA, be forwarded to all state societies and evaluated, discussed by its members, and actually be voted on by each and every individual state society.
This, in turn, would be formally submitted to all the delegates and leaders of APMA prior to any discussions outside of our profession. I hope we can learn from this. The efforts that started in California actually had a negative effect in other states dealing with physician bills. This, in turn, will hurt several state societies from achieving resolution from several items that they have fought for years. I will also commend the DPMs that want "equality" but we need to do this in the correct format that is best for most of us in our profession. If polled, I feel most podiatrists feel that they have enough parity and respect overall from most of the healthcare professionals.
Steven Selby Blanken, DPM, Silver Spring, MD
Editor's note: In the next PM News, we will poll our readers on the issue of how podiatrists feel about parity.
01/07/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (SPECIAL COMMUNICATION) - PART 1A
From: Brian Kiel, DPM
Dr. Kornfeld, I think you are correct in that many podiatrists are "unhappy", but statistics show that a large percentage of physicians are equally unhappy and are quitting in record numbers. I do disagree with your inference that the public does not know who we are. I have been in practice for 48 years. Time and time again when people ask me what I do, I say "I am a podiatrist." They know exactly what I do.
In fact, years ago, I would say "foot doctor" and often they would say, "Oh, a podiatrist". Where we are going as a profession is questionable - too many foot and ankle surgeons and not enough podiatrists, but you can be sure the public knows who we are and appreciate our care.
Brian Kiel, DPM, Memphis, TN
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